Releasable buckle particularly for bags, satchels and similar articles

Abstract

Buckle on which a female part having a receiving opening at one end and an adjacent locking edge on the opposite side to the opening, and a male part, having a locking portion and an activating portion, are designed to connect in releasable manner; the buckle being characterised by the fact that the locking and activating portions are formed on an intermediate portion and the free end respectively of a flexible tongue projecting from the male part in the insertion direction, the flexible tongue being connected to a further essentially-rigid contrasting tongue on the male part, the distance between the tongue and the locking portion on the flexible tongue being greater than the height of the receiving opening.

I claim: 
     
       1. A buckle comprising: an essentially plate-like female part having a U-shaped bracket on its upper surface and a male part separable from the female part; said female part including a receiving cavity having towards one end an opening for receiving said male part, an adjacent locking edge on the opposite side of the said opening, both said opening and said locking edge being defined by said U-shaped bracket, and a slanting ramp portion comprising a portion of the inside surface of said cavity sloping downwards away from said U-shaped bracket in the male part insertion direction; said male part having a locking portion engaging behind said locking edge when said male part is inserted inside said receiving opening and an activating portion located in front of said locking portion in the male part insertion direction; said male part further having said locking and said activating portions formed on an intermediate portion and the free end respectively of a first flexible tongue projecting from said male part in the direction of its insertion; said male part also having a second essentially rigid contrasting tongue projecting beneath said first flexible tongue and essentially beneath said locking portion, the lower surface of said second rigid tongue being located, in relation to said locking portion, at a distance measured perpendicularly to the planes of said second rigid and first flexible tongues, greater than the height of said receiving opening; wherein said activating portion of said male part cooperates with said receiving opening and said ramp portion of said female part for insertion and retention therein. 
     
     
       2. A buckle according to claim 1, wherein said U bracket is flared internally on its top side in such a manner as to widen said receiving opening on the opposite side of said locking edge. 
     
     
       3. A buckle according to claim 1, wherein said female part is provided with a raised collar edge defining, together with said top surface, a cup-shaped housing for said activating and locking portions. 
     
     
       4. A buckle according to claim 1, wherein said male and female parts include respective flat plate members enabling connection to sheet material, such as a belt, a bag flap or similar articles. 
     
     
       5. A buckle according to claim 4, wherein each respective plate member on said male and female parts comprises a metal plate having respective cutting and locking tabs designed to pierce said sheet material and to bend 90°, and means upon said male and female parts for engaging said metal plates on to said male and female parts. 
     
     
       6. A buckle according to claim 5, wherein said male part includes an L-shaped connecting member formed integral with said flexible and rigid tongues and having a housing on its bottom for engaging a respective L-shaped metal plate, said housing being defined by respective lock ridges for receiving said L-shaped metal plate of which at least one of said ridges is deflectable. 
     
     
       7. A buckle according to claim 4, wherein said female part includes a bottom recess housing a corresponding metal plate, said recess being defined by a respective pair of opposed longitudinal ridges and by a front tooth formed on the free end of a deflecting tongue integral with said female part and projecting from said U bracket side, said tongue defining the bottom of the said receiving opening. 
     
     
       8. A buckle according to claim 1, wherein said female part includes a projecting portion in front of said receiving opening in the male part insertion direction, which cooperates with said rigid tongue wherein said rigid tongue has a free end defined by respective adjacent surfaces which combine to form an acute angle and are radiused in such a manner as to allow insertion of said male part inside said receiving opening. 
     
     
       9. A buckle according to claim 1, wherein said flexible tongue on said male part is essentially frame-like and comprises two flexible, longitudinal side members arranged side by side and parallel over said rigid tongue and a cross member connecting said side members and having, on one side, an edge designed to cooperate with said locking edge of said female part and defining said locking portion and, on the other side, a projecting push-button defining said activating portion.